What's happening now? What thoughts, feelings, physical sensations and responses to interactions? Whether sitting in stillness or fully engaged in activity, attending to the experience of the moment reveals who we are, how we resist or cling to our experiences, and how we can open in a liberating and insightful way.

Cultivating and sustaining this practice of continuous awareness is the theme of this practice period at City Center. There are three categories of effort in this practice:

Establishing the skillful behaviors that lessen our stress and support the development of awareness.

Bringing attention, contact and awareness to what arises moment by moment in our thoughts, feelings and interactions.

Integrating the insights that become evident through practice awareness into our everyday activities and relationships.

The intention of a practice period is to offer each participant the guidance and support to increase their involvement in the elements of practice. Urban practice requests an adaptable and durable effort that flows from one situation to the next: sometimes defined by traditional Zen formalities, and sometimes defined by the unexpected occurrences of city life. Our collective inquiry will be to examine the understanding, dedication, guidance and support needed to sustain these elements of practice in the midst of the myriad activities of each day.

With a foundation of daily sitting, classes, weekly lectures, and each other’s support, we'll study ourselves and traditional Zen teachings that illuminate this path of Awakening.

Additionally there will be a yoga workshop designed to help with sitting zazen, and some days throughout the practice period will be offered to participants to dedicate exclusively to sitting zazen (Zazenkai).

The practice period begins with an orientation on the evening of Tuesday, January 20. The first one-day sitting is on Saturday, January 24. The practice period includes two one-day sittings and concludes with a seven-day sesshin, March 22 - 28.

Select one of three versions of the application below: online, commuter, or residential.

Commuting participants join the practice period at a level of commitment that is appropriate to their circumstances.

Commuter Fee: $75 plus additional fees for sittings, classes, sesshins, workshops and events, as indicated. Use the Register Online button below or include payment with your application, or call our toll free number (888.743.9362) or our local number (415.475.9362).

Commuter Application:

Download the Commuter Practice Period Application [Word]/[PDF]. You may also email the office (ccoffice@sfzc.org) to request one, or call 415.863.3136.

Applications for commuter participation will be accepted through January 9, 2015.

Residential Participation

Residential practice period participants join the full practice period schedule, or a limited schedule that includes everything except the daily work practice. Residential participants should plan to arrive by the early afternoon of January 20.

Residential Fees:

Full: Includes full-time work practice at City Center

$1,848 shared room $2,310 private room, if available

Limited: Not working at City Center

$2,706 shared room $3,102 private room, if available

Residential Applications:

Download the Residential Practice Period Application [Word]/[PDF]. You may also email the office (ccoffice@sfzc.org) to request one, or call 415.863.3136.

To process residential applications, a non-refundable fee of $30 is required. Use theRegister Online button below or include payment with your application, or call our toll free number (888.743.9362) or our local number (415.475.9362).

Deadline for residential applications: December 19, 2014Note: We will accept new residential participants in the practice period based on available housing. If you want to practice as a resident, you are encouraged to apply as soon as possible, as residential space is limited.

Payment

Use the Register Online button to pay your commuter fee or residential application fee. Or call our toll free number (888.743.9362) or our local number (415.475.9362).

Related Bio(s):

Ryushin Paul Haller (Urban Temple Dharma Teacher)Ryushin Paul Haller is a dharma heir of Sojun Mel Weitsman and has taught at Zen Center for over 20 years. He served as abiding abbot at City Center from 2003 to 2012, and remains at City Center as urban temple dharma teacher. Originally from Belfast, Northern Ireland, he teaches throughout the US and Europe and has led mindfulness programs to assist with depression and recovery. Paul has also taught in prisons and has a long involvement with the Zen Hospice Project. He has been practicing yoga for 25 years.